The goal of the Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat project (ACWH) is to interest, educate and assist citizens, schools, businesses and community organizations in Arlington County in the creation of habitats that provide wildlife with food, water, shelter and places to raise young.

Whether it's in a person's own backyard, on the grounds of a local school or place of worship, on corporate property, or in a community garden or parkland, wildlife habitats beautify, enrich and improve the local environment, while providing the community with a way to address the area's growing urbanization. Working on the creation of these landscapes will help teach the young and old alike about the plants and wildlife around them and expose them to the beauty of nature right in their own backyards.

The Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat Project was started in September 2001 by interested citizens, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, the Virginia Native Plant Society Potowmack Chapter, local businesses, such as Wild Birds Unlimited, and the Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources, who were all interested in creating more habitat landscapes throughout Arlington to benefit its people, plants and wildlife. On November 9, 2005, Arlington County, Virginia, reached its goal of becoming a certified community wildlife habitat project. Read more about the ceremony celebrating this accomplishment. The Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat Project will continue its mission to encourage citizens to create habitat landscapes throughout Arlington to benefit people, plants and wildlife.